Boston University
6-5
Norfolk State
8-3
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT 1 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk State | 32 | 35 | 19 | 86 |
| Boston University | 30 | 37 | 15 | 82 |
Norfolk State Edges Men's Basketball in Overtime, 86-82
December 15, 2013 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 15, 2013
Box Score | Highlights | Watch Replay
BOSTON - Despite shooting a season-high 54.9 percent from the field and sophomore Maurice Watson Jr. earning his third career double-double, the Boston University men's basketball team fell in overtime to defending MEAC regular season champion Norfolk State, 86-82, on Sunday afternoon in Case Gym.
Undone by a season-worst 18 turnovers in the first-ever meeting between the two programs, the Terriers drop to 6-5, while the Spartans (8-3) extend their win streak to three games.
Sophomore John Papale led BU's hot shooting with a season-high 18 points off a career-high six 3-pointers, while his classmate Watson nearly had a triple-double with 16 points, 12 assists and eight rebounds. Seniors Travis Robinson and Dom Morris were the other two in double figures with 14 and 10 points, respectively. Falling in overtime for the second time this season, the Terriers finished 28-of-51 (.549), including 13-of-28 (.464) from behind the arc.
Allowing just eight turnovers, Norfolk State entered the week ranked 12th in the nation in field goal shooting percentage at 50.7 and went 32-of-64 (.500) against the Terriers. Pendarvis Williams led all players with 27 points, including eight in overtime. Malcolm Hawkins added 17 points, while Anell Alexis had 16 points and seven rebounds. Brandon Goode was just one rebound short of a double-double with 10 points.
After Robinson's tip-in with 1:52 left in the extra session tied the game for the eighth and final time at 72-72, Alexis drained an open 3-pointer to give the Spartans the lead for good. Watson drove through traffic to the hoop to cut the deficit to one, but Goode responded with a layup and then a defensive rebound with 29 seconds left, leading to two made free throws by Alexis.
NSU went 15-of-19 from the charity stripe, including 9-of-10 in the final 30 seconds of the contest, to escape with the win. The Spartans held a 38-26 advantage in points in the paint and 15-13 lead in points off turnovers, as both programs had six second-chance points.
BU fell behind early to open the game, as the Spartans scored the contest's first nine points in the first four minutes of action. Morris' 3-pointer at 14:16 cut the deficit to four (9-5) and marked BU's first made field goal of the game.
The teams battled back and forth with Irving's jumper giving BU a 25-19 lead with 4:52 left in the half. NSU rallied with a 13-2 run behind treys by Williams and Zieyik Estime along with a 3-point play by Hawkins. Robinson's second of three 3-pointers cut the Spartans' lead to 32-30 entering the locker room.
With the score tied 44-44 at 13:39 in the second half, the Spartans went on an 8-0 spurt with four different individuals contributing over the next two minutes. The Terriers tied the game, 52-52, at 9:21 off a layup by sophomore Justin Alston and grabbed their largest lead of the game, 67-59, with two minutes left following a steal by senior D.J. Irving and fastbreak layup by Watson.
NSU's defense clamped down and prevented BU from hitting another shot or even from getting close to the basket in the final two minutes. Hawkins hit a layup and Williams followed with a jumper after BU missed a 3-point attempt in the corner.
The Spartans called a timeout down 67-63 with 1:02 remaining and used the press to create a turnover and easy layup. BU missed another 3-point attempt with 25 seconds left, and Williams hit a contested jumper to tie the game at 67-67 with 10 seconds left.
The Terriers tried to push the ball up the court and get to the basket similar to the 66-65 win over St. Peter's, but NSU used its athleticism to force a difficult 3-point attempt and send the game to overtime.
After the Spartans grabbed a 79-74 lead in overtime on Alexis' two free throws, Morris hit a 3-pointer to cut the Terriers' deficit to two with 22 seconds remaining. The deficit remained the same at 81-79 after Robinson hit a free throw at the 11-second mark.
BU tried to force a turnover on the inbounds pass but was called with an intentional foul after the Spartans beat the press. NSU hit four straight free throws to seal the win.
The Terriers have lost their last three games to opponents that are currently a combined 26-5 and will continue the difficult non-conference schedule at ACC power Maryland (7-4, 1-0) on Saturday, Dec. 21. The ESPN3 broadcast will begin at 1 p.m.
